ICC Champions Trophy, 2006-07

Pakistan battled against the odds and sneaked a memorable win in their opening match. There
had been no shortage of drama over the preceding fortnight - Pakistan's captaincy had changed
hands twice, and a new board chairman had taken charge - but what really shook the cricket
world, on the eve of this game, was Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, Pakistan's fast-bowling
spearheads, being sent home after testing positive for nandrolone. And, as if having only 12 players
to choose from was not enough, Pakistan also had to contend with some Hindu fundamentalists
demonstrating outside the ground, while inside an even more violent demonstration was unleashed
by Jayasuriya, who lashed 48 in only 35 balls. But his dismissal provided Pakistan with an opening,
one their spinners exploited with 25 accurate overs (they ended with combined figures of four for
105). Abdul Razzaq mopped up the tail, but it was his thunderous 38 with the bat - he came in
with 53 needed off 47 balls - for which this game will be remembered. He was helped by a heavy
dew, which played havoc with the spinners' grips, and which may also have contributed to Dilshan
dropping him at point when he had made only five.